Mr. Karaoke

Read our bonus Web interview with Drake & Josh star Drake Bell!

IF YOU'RE JUST HAVING ONE OF THOSE BAD DAYS, HOW DO YOU GET THROUGH IT?

With a good melody...music gets me through everything. The best place for me is in my car, listening to my stereo. I am "Mr. Karaoke Guy" in the car completely. I just go with it and don't care what anyone else thinks—I'm singing, man!"

HOW OLD WERE YOU WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED SINGING?

I started playing the guitar and singing at about 11 or 12.

WHAT ABOUT WHEN YOU STARTED ACTING?

When I was 5 I did a commercial for Whirlpool sitting on a tree stump eating a popsicle that dripped all over my clothes. After that, I was like, "You know what? I think I'll just stick with this!"

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WHAT'S THE BEST THING ABOUT MUSIC AS OPPOSED TO ACTING?

It's completely personal—your own ideas. It's being able to express to the world how you feel, instead of how somebody else does. Right now, creatively for me, music is such a more rewarding outlet.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE SOUND OF YOUR MUSIC TO SOMEONE WHO HASN'T HEARD IT BEFORE?

It's very Beatles, Beach Boys, but with a very modern sound.

HOW DO YOU GET READY BEFORE A BIG SHOW?

I get super nervous before I get on stage but we all just hang out and get really excited. We get juiced and get up there and play—it's awesome!

HOW DO YOU CALM YOURSELF DOWN WHEN YOU'RE NERVOUS?

I just go with it. There's not much I can do. I'm nervous the first few songs and then I'm like, "I got this audience, I'm ready!"

Make sure to pick up the December 2006/January 2007 issue of CosmoGIRL! for more of our interview with Drake!